SOCIAL DEMOCRATS WIN A KEY ELECTION

Tribune News ServicesCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats were poised to win a critical vote of approval in Germany's most populous state Sunday, staving off a reinvigorated Christian Democratic party fighting back after a slush-fund scandal.

Projections by Germany's ARD television showed the Social Democrats had 43.1 percent of the vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, down from the 46 percent they received in the last election five years ago.

The Christian Democrats received 36.9 percent of the vote, down from 37.7 percent.